Memphis - Janis Ian

We were standing by the river

Staring into town

All the world was on his shoulders

The tears were raining down

All along the Southern skyline

City lights began to bloom

He said if you only knew her

The way that I do sir

You would be crying too

If you could see Memphis the way that I do

She would look different to you

Queen of the Delta tip your tiara

Memphis the belle of the blues

The streets were filled with cotton

And music filled the air

All the paddle boats came rolling

From east of everywhere

Now the streets are filled with silence

And songs no one can hear

But her memory lingers

It slips through my fingers

And into this river of tears

If you could see Memphis the way that I do

She would look different to you

Queen of the Delta tip your tiara

Memphis the belle of the blues

So roll on roll on

My sweet magnolia roll on

How the memory lingers

It slips through my fingers

And into this river of tears

If you could see Memphis the way that I do

She would look different to you

Queen of the Delta tip your tiara

Memphis the belle of the blues

Memphis the belle of the blues